Finding out after eight years

Charapter nine: Dog Tags

As Scarlet laid in parkers master bedroom laying against his perfectly tanned six pack abs, looking up at his face as he slept peacefully, she noticed that he was wearing dog tags. Scarlet slowly moved her hands to have a closer look, there were two hanging from his neck on was engraved with
Maxwell
Parker.D
08•07•89
A+
And the second one had engraved on it least we forget the ones who didn't make it home. As scarlet sat there wondering what it meant the only thing she could think of is that Parker while she was away had time in the Australian military, but wouldn't she had known by now she thought to herself. As she continued to wonder and look at the dog tags, scarlet heard "good morning beautiful" as Parker sat up, as he did he notice that scarlet looked confused.
"You right love?" He asked concerned "yeah it's just..." Scarlet paused mid-sentence, then continue "Where were you stationed?". Parker coughed before answering the question "overseas, Iraq mainly" "oh my gosh Parker I had no idea" scarlet said putting her head down a little ashamed she hadn't known. Parker lifts up her chin making her look him in the eye and he leans in giving her forehead a small kiss as if saying it's alright.

"For how long?" Scarlet asked, "I had one year of basic training and then I was shipped off to Afghanistan for two years, then moved to Iraq were I was stationed there for the past five and a half years I was discharged from service six months ago"

"I can't believe I didn't know. Some of the things you must off gone through over there" Scarlet said softly "I'm sure being a single mum at seventeen had some through times too" Parker replied as his defense. Scarlet and Parker laid in the king sized bed for a few minutes in comfortable silence before Scarlet turned to her phone and saw the time "bloody hell, Parker" Scarlet said rushing up and out bed, searching for her jeans and shoes as fast as possible. "what's wrong, love?" Parker asked sitting up on the bed. "I have got to go get Andrew" scarlet says still rushing around "his still at Maddison's and matt's place" she added. "Okay calm down" Parker said getting to his feet and getting scarlet to sit on the bed so that she could take a deep breath "why don't you go pick up Andrew from your sisters place, go back to your parents house have a shower and get ready and I'll take you both out to lunch" Parker suggested "sounds lovely" scarlet replied then giving Parker a kiss before getting up and walking out of the room, heading for her car parked out the front of the house.

Once Scarlet had left to go pick up Andrew and get ready, Parker jumped out of the king size bed having a short shower before choosing what to wear...he chose a pair of dark blue jeans with a plain white t-shirt.

"Andrew, Mums here sweetie" yelled Maddison from the front door of her and matt's house, while scarlet and herself stood in the doorway, Andrew then came flying from around the corner slamming his mother with a big bear hug.
"Andrew, we're going to go out to lunch with mummy's friend Parker, but first we have to go and get ready at grandma and grandpa's house, sound good" scarlet said kneeling down to his level, Andrew nodded then heading to the car.
"Thanks again Maddison" scarlet told her sister giving her a short hug before walking down the path towards the car.

As scarlet and Andrew entered April and ben's house. April who was standing in the kitchen back to them as she turned around to see them both April rolled her eyes at her daughter and grandson. When Scarlet saw this she told Andrew to hurry to the guest room they were staying in to get ready for lunch and she went into the kitchen.

"As your daughter mum, I would like you to show some respect towards me and your grandson" scarlet said speaking up. "You are no daughter of mine and that bastard you call a son is not my grandson either" April come back at scarlet in a harsh tone. "While I wont apologises for not wanting to be married at the age of seventeen, and if you want to disown me for that that's your choice" scarlet said before leaving the room and walking into the guest room were Andrew was sitting on the bed ready to go.

"Andrew honey, could you please pack up your things were going to go and stay somewhere else" scarlet told him after gathering her thoughts, without saying a word Andrew did as he was told, scarlet had always been lucky when it came to Andrew listening to her and for that she felt blessed. By the time they both had packed their bags, Parker was waiting out the front of the house with his truck ready for lunch.

Andrew and Scarlet walked out to the truck with bags in hand, Parker walked up to Scarlet and without saying a word takes her suitcase and places her's and Andrew suitcase in the bed of the truck. They all hop into the car, before taking off Parker squeeze's Scarlet hand.
Once they arrive at the lake side restaurant, they were sited near a patch of grass were a few children we're playing, after Andrew had ordered his food he ran off and joined the other children giving Parker and Scarlet some space.

"What's going on Scar?" Asked Parker reaching out for Scarlet's hand across the table. "Mum and I had a blue and she basically told me that Andrew and I weren't her family and that she wants nothing to do with us" Scarlet explain "so we pack up our things and left"

"Where will you both go?" Question Parker already having a place in mind. "We'll find somewhere, we always do" scarlet said looking out to find Andrew having a fantastic time with the other children. "Non sense you'll stay with me" Parker told her

"Parker that's very kind but we couldn't impose"

"You wouldn't be scarlet, it would give me the time I need to get to know Andrew and for us to be together" Parker insisted
"Okay, we will" scarlet said as the food arrived.